Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1887-03-19
THE RANsBARCER TRIAL.
The Case Gone TO the Jury--Sympathy iof
the Prsoner--H History of,he Case.

Rainsbarger trial Judge Cole closed
for the defense at 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Judge Henderson closed
for the state at 10 last night. The jury
was instruct Il and sent out this morn
ing. An early verdict is not expected
for it is now stated one Of the jurymau
at least is in sympathy with Rainsbar-
ger. For the last week Of the trial the
large court o has been densely
crowded. MANY prominent society
women have been regular attendants,
most Of them sympathiAiDg with the
defendant.
TIE NOTORIOUS RArRsBARGERs.
For central Iowa particularly the
Rainsbarger eases have An intense in
terest. The "R ,insbarger country"
so-called, il Il strip of rough and part
" tmbered land lying along the Iowa
river, beginning about fifteen miles
northwest of Marshailtown and reach
ing nearly TO Ackley and Iowa FAILS or
the north. For twenty-five years i.
has been infested with thieves and des-
%peradoes, to whom the RinsbarCers.
I'VE brothers--F Frank. Nate, Fins.
Mans and William-hcld a relation
like that Of Jesse and F.,ank James Il
their gang-at least in popular cstima-
ton. There were stealings, outrages.
mysterious disappearances and muir
ders, but sucn a reign Of terror existed
among residents that until recently
nothing was attempted except Intellect
ual organization for sclt-proteelion.
The law was powcrless. The com
mhnities of Steamboat Rock, Abbott
and Eidora were the centcrs Of disturb
ances. In 1870, Bob Fiskin, depot
agent at Steamboat. who was known te
have 81 POO on his person, disappeared
found by his relations who have
searched diligently. Iii, disappearance
was followed a few years since by thai
of Geo. Boyer. an Abbott creamer,
man. who had just drawn 81 200 pen.
sion money. A few weeks previous to
the trial just closed, u letter. purpor,-
ing to have been written by him IN
California and demanding his bach
pension money, was received by the
pension agent at Dcs Moines but it IL
alleged that it was y forgery, pcrpe
trated for effect upon
THE FORTHCOMING TRIAL.
On the evening OF Nov. rs. 1884.
Enoch Johnson, father OF Mrs Frank
(Settie) R~tinsbarger, who had beer
charged with the counteririting, baileG
ont by Frank and Nate and living with
them. was murdered on tho road flom
Clifford TO Abbott. His lite was insured
in favor of Nctlie and the bo,s. Nettie
became convinced that Frank and Nate
murdered him TO prevent both his
'Peacbing' and jumping bail, aud also
to secure his insurance money, and
Jan. ID, 1850, charged thea NTH the
crime. The law and order clemens
rallied around her aud the boys were
held TO trial. Things were now in an
uproar. In addition ia her testimony
1T the examination, on Feb. ). 80. Ahe
wrote Frank, Chen in jill with Nate
III Marshaiitown, for safe Keeping u
letter, which WAS published. and il
which she accused the boys of the
CRIME, intimating also ether things IN
which they had been engaged. On
April l6. Henry Johns, a wealthy
brother-in-law and alleged hacker Of
the boys, was shot while driving from
Abbott 10 his farm, afterwards dying
of his wounds. On june IA, Coroner
{now senator) Underwood and DR.
R,tenour, while driving from Johns
residence, where they had been attend
inc the wounded man we're
AMBUsuED AND SHOT AT,
their carriage being riddled by bullets.
but neit.er were hurt. Fins, Mans
and William, with Ed. Johns, were
supposed TO be the attacking parties.
and Fins and Mans were arrested the
next day and lodged in the Eldora jail
That night the jail was broken into bya
mob and Fins and Mans, after II help
less resistance, were shot down. As
Illus rating the fierce courage Of the
boys, it could be added that the next
day following this fearful tragedy.
William Rainsbarger and Ed. Johns,
the two others accused Of the Under
wood shooting, rode boldly into Eldora
and gave bail for their appearance.
Now it is said that there are grave
doubts whether any OF the four were
guilty of the charge. DR.. Ritenour.
soon after, moved by the supplications
of his family. moved from the country.
but as a rule those actively en-
gagged in forcingl the ~Rainsbargers
to the wall held bravely out against all
sorts of threats. Threatening letters
were sent everyone supposed to be in
sympathy with the prosecution OF
Frank and Nate for Johns murder.
and acts of intimidation and outrage
were of daily occurrence and were, of
course promptly laid to "the gang
The boys demanded separate trials.
and Mates case came first before Judge
Henderson. at Marshalltown, OF
change of venue. Jan. %, 1885, bring
ing with it a host of armed and sus.
picious partisans of both sides.
Coed For Depew.
Town Topics: And what does you-